Chapter 4
Tiffany
D ean Carter’s funeral is a grand affair, with mourners filling the church pews and spilling out into the courtyard. I sit in the front row next to Olivia, clutching her hand like a lifeline.
I try to focus on the eulogies, which praise him as a visionary, a man who built an empire from the ground up. They speak of his generosity, unwavering commitment to family, and ability to inspire those around him. They don’t know the truth—the secrets he buried, the lives he destroyed. They don’t know the man who lurked beneath the polished veneer of success.
As the service comes to an end, people begin to file out of the church, and we follow suit. Olivia keeps a firm grip on my hand as we step into the sunlight, the cool breeze brushing against my skin.
“How are you holding up?” Olivia asks softly, her hazel eyes filled with concern as she studies my face. I try to muster a smile, but it feels brittle like it might shatter at any moment.
“I’m okay. It’s just a lot.” I scan the solemn faces of those paying their respects—some curious, others calculating. I wonder how many of them are here out of genuine respect and how many are simply here waiting to pounce on any perceived weakness.
“Let’s get through this,” Olivia murmurs. “One step at a time.”
Generations of Carters have been laid to rest in this peaceful cemetery, situated on the outskirts of town with rolling green hills and majestic oak trees providing shade for the elaborate mausoleums and towering monuments that dot the landscape.
The casket, heavy and polished, is slowly lowered into the ground with a thud. I clutch a single white rose in my hand, its petals soft against my fingertips. This is it—the end of an era, the closing of a chapter that was as much about survival as it was about loss.
I step forward and drop the rose onto the casket, my breath catching in my throat as I whisper, “Goodbye, Uncle.”
The words feel inadequate, but they’re all I have left to give. As I step back to rejoin Olivia, I notice a man standing at the edge of the crowd—tall, dark-haired, and unmistakable. In the blink of an eye, the figure disappears into the shadows of the surrounding oak trees, leaving me to wonder if my heart is playing tricks on me.
It was not him .
It couldn’t have been him.
The ride back is silent and somber. Alexander and Lucas exchange quiet words, occasionally glancing at Olivia and me through the rearview mirror. Olivia leans her head against my shoulder as the limousine makes its way back to the estate.
Our PR team has decided that we should stay at Carter Manor for the rest of the week, away from the relentless scrutiny of the media. The estate, with its sprawling grounds and towering iron gates, offers a semblance of sanctuary from the prying eyes of the world. But it’s also the place my nightmares call home. The place where my memories of lurking monsters and bloodcurdling screams live.
That first night, I slip on a robe and make my way down the silent hallways of the estate towards the kitchen, knowing that sleep won’t come until I decide on my game plan for tomorrow’s emergency meeting regarding Carter Corporation’s future. The polished wooden floors creak beneath my bare feet, the sound echoing through the vast emptiness of the house. The shadows stretch long and dark, their shapes shifting with every flicker of the dim sconces lining the walls. It’s strange how a place so grand can feel so suffocating, like the walls themselves are closing in, pressing down with the weight of secrets they’ve been forced to hold.
To my surprise, the kitchen is already occupied. Alexander sits at the table, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand as he looks at his laptop screen with furrowed brows.
Alexander Hawthorne was not what I expected when I first heard about Olivia’s engagement. He is charismatic, intelligent, handsome, and completely enamored with my sister.
It’s still strange to see my reserved sister so openly affectionate, so vulnerable with someone who isn’t family. Olivia has always been the pillar of strength, the one who keeps her emotions in check, but with Alexander, she seems… softer. Happier. Head over heels for Alexander, who effortlessly fits into our social circle.
I hesitate in the doorway, unsure whether to retreat or announce my presence. Before I can decide, Alexander looks up, his piercing gray eyes locking onto mine. “Couldn’t sleep either?”
I shake my head, stepping into the room and pulling my robe tighter around me. “No. Too much on my mind.”
He nods and gestures to the chair across from him. “Join me? I could use the company.”
I make myself a cup of tea and sit down across from him, the warmth of the mug seeping into my hands. The kitchen is quiet except for the soft hum of the refrigerator and the occasional tap of Alexander’s fingers against the keyboard. He closes his laptop and sets it aside, giving me his full attention.
“What are you doing up so late?”
“I didn’t want to disturb Olivia’s sleep, but I need to catch up on tasks I missed from taking a few days off work.”
Alexander, the senator’s only son and heir to a real estate empire and political dynasty, holds the position of COO at Hawthorne Group.
“How are you settling into your new job? You recently moved back to Empire Heights, right?”
He nods. “It’s been quite a change, but I like the job. If only my father would stop breathing down my neck every step of the way,” he adds with a rueful smile, though I catch the flicker of frustration in his eyes. He leans back in his chair, running a hand through his dark hair.
“Did he pressure you into the position?” I stir my tea absently. The warmth of the mug does little to stave off the chill that seems to have settled deep in my bones.
Alexander exhales slowly, his gaze drifting to the window where moonlight spills across the kitchen floor. “You could say that. It’s expected of me, you know? To step into my father’s shoes, to uphold the Hawthorne name. There’s not much room for choice when you’re born into a family like mine. What really bothers me is being compelled to fill a role that’s already predetermined without having much of a say.”
“And Olivia?” I venture carefully, watching his expression. “How does she fit into all of this?”
A soft smile tugs at the corners of his lips, and for a moment, the tension in his shoulders eases. “Olivia… she’s different. She makes me feel like I can be more than just a Hawthorne. Like I can be myself.” His voice is quiet but earnest, and I can see the sincerity in his eyes. “She’s… everything.”
I’m struck by the depth of his feelings for my sister. It’s rare to see someone so composed, so controlled, let their guard down like this. I take a sip of my tea, the warmth spreading through me as I consider his words.
“She’s lucky to have you,” I say. “And you’re lucky to have her. She’s stronger than she lets on, you know. She’s been through a lot.”
“I know. And I admire that about her. She’s resilient, but she doesn’t have to carry everything alone anymore. Not while I’m here.”
I smile faintly, though a pang of envy tugs at my heart. It’s not that I begrudge Olivia her happiness—far from it. But seeing them together, so sure of each other, only highlights the uncertainty in my life.
“How about you, Tiffany? You’re about to inherit a significant portion of Carter Corporation. That’s no small responsibility,” Alexander says, his tone shifting to something more serious. “Are you ready for it?”
I glance down at my tea, the steam curling upward in delicate wisps. “I don’t know,” I admit quietly. “I’ve been trying to prepare myself, but it’s… overwhelming. Uncle Dean left behind a legacy that’s as much a burden as it is an opportunity. And with everything that’s happened…” My voice trails off, my thoughts drifting to the shadowy figure I thought I saw at the funeral.
“You don’t have to do it alone, you know. Olivia and I are here for you. The board will support you once they see your commitment.”
“Well, I don’t trust the board,” I say bluntly, my fingers tightening around the mug. “Not after what happened with Uncle Dean. They turned a blind eye to his dealings for years. How can I trust them to have my best interests at heart now?”
“You’re right to be cautious. But you’re not Dean, Tiffany. You have a chance to change things, to steer the company in a new direction. You just need to promote someone who shares your vision. Someone you can trust implicitly to help you navigate the board’s politics and enact the changes you want to see.”
“And who would that be?” I look at Alexander with a new sense of curiosity, my brow furrowing slightly. He could be the answer I’ve been looking for. “Would you consider taking the CEO position at Carter Corporation?”
“Me? I’m flattered you’d consider it, but my hands are full with Hawthorne Group. Besides, I’m not qualified for it.”
“You’re not,” I agree. “But you’re smart, driven, and you know how to navigate the corporate world better than most. You’ve been groomed for leadership your entire life, even if it wasn’t in the way you wanted. This could be your chance to prove to your father—and to yourself—that you’re more than just his heir. That you can lead on your own terms.”
The plan is bold, almost reckless, but it’s the only one that makes sense to me. I can’t trust anyone on the board, not after everything that’s come to light about Uncle Dean’s dealings. But Alexander? He’s family now—or he will be soon enough. And more importantly, he loves Olivia, so he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her and, by extension, me. That’s a kind of loyalty I can rely on.
Alexander’s gray eyes search mine, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he leans back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly against the table. “You’re serious.”
“Deadly. I don’t trust anyone else. You have the skills, the connections, and the drive. And you’re already invested in this family. I can’t think of anyone better suited to help me steer Carter Corp out of this mess.”
“It’s a risky move, Tiffany. The board won’t take kindly to an outsider stepping into the CEO role, especially not someone from the Hawthorne family. They’ll see it as a power grab.”
“Then we’ll make them see it differently. You’re about to be part of this family officially. It’ll be a good move to present it as a strategic alliance rather than a takeover. A partnership between two of Empire Heights’ most influential families. The board might resist at first, but if we frame it as a way to stabilize Carter Corp and protect their investments, they’ll come around. They’re practical people at the end of the day.”
“The board meeting is tomorrow, and you’re proposing this now?” Alexander shakes his head, but there’s a spark of interest in his eyes, a hint of the ambitious man beneath the polished exterior. “You don’t do things by halves, do you?”
“There’s no time for halves. Uncle Dean left us with a mess, and if we don’t act quickly, it’ll only get worse. The board meeting is our chance to take control before someone else does.”
“Olivia will hate the idea. She’s already carrying so much, and this—this would thrust her into the middle of a corporate battle she didn’t ask for.”
“She’ll understand. She has to. This isn’t just about me or you—it’s about survival, the future of Carter Corporation.”
Alexander studies me for a long moment, his gray eyes sharp and calculating. I can almost see the gears turning in his mind, weighing the risks and rewards, the potential fallout. Finally, he nods, a slow, decisive movement that sends a rush of relief through me.
“Alright,” he says. “But we do this together. Every step of the way. You handle Olivia—I’ll handle my father. If we’re going to pull this off, we need to be united. No hesitation, no second-guessing.”
“Agreed,” I say firmly, though my heart is pounding in my chest. This is it—the first real step toward reclaiming control of our lives, of Carter Corporation, toward forging a path that’s entirely our own. But I’ll need to convince everyone else it’s the right move.
“I’ll talk to Olivia in the morning,” I add. “She deserves to hear it from me first.”